Groundbreaking AI heart attack scans could soon be rolled out across UK
Oxford University team say thousands of lives could be saved by technology that finds hidden data in CT scans
An artificial intelligence system that can identify people who are likely to suffer heart attacks up to 10 years in the future could soon be in operation across Britain.
The technology, which could save thousands of lives a year, is being assessed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) and a decision on its use in the NHS is expected by the end of the year.
The project’s scientists have also revealed they are working on similar AI systems to predict whether someone is in danger of suffering a stroke and to spot those at risk of conditions such as diabetes.
“This technology has now been tested at several hospitals across the UK and results have been tremendously encouraging,” said Prof Charalambos Antoniades, leader of the Orfan (Oxford Risk Factors And Non Invasive Imaging) study. “If installed nationally, it would help save thousands of people from suffering early heart attacks or deaths from heart disease.”
More than 300,000 people in Britain each year suffered severe chest pains and were given CT scans to discover if they were suffering from cardiac abnormalities such as arterial blockages, said Antoniades. Fewer than 20% of those scanned were found to have obstructions or dangerous narrowing of their coronary arteries, however. “The remaining 80%-plus show no abnormalities. They are reassured and sent home,very often without any medication,” said Antoniades, chair of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Oxford. “However, these reassurances are often misplaced.”